How do you remove limescale from bathtub handles?

Carole
by Carole

The hot and cold water handles in my apartment bathtub are hard to turn. I can see limescale around the metal plates where they meet the tile.

  8 answers
  • Gk Gk on Mar 04, 2019

    Hello Carole! Use a toothbrush and some vinegar to clean the lime from your faucets. If there is anyway you can soak a sponge or paper towels with vinegar and lay them around the faucet for about an hour that will help soften the lime. You can scrub with an old toothbrush or a small stiff hand brush.

  • Mogie Mogie on Mar 04, 2019

    Oxalic Acid BarKeeper's Friend Product from Lowe's.

  • Janice Janice on Nov 02, 2023

    CLR (comes in a lime green plastic bottle) works well to remove lime. There's also a product called "Lime-Away" that will work too. Just soak a rag in the product and wrap around the areas you need to clean. Cover with saran wrap or a plastic bag so the rag doesn't quickly dry out. After 20-30 minutes remove the rag and rinse and dry the area well.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Nov 02, 2023

    Soak a cloth in vinegar and wrap around handles for a bout 1/2 hour. then rinse. May need to repeat!

  • Deb K Deb K on Nov 02, 2023

    Hi Carole, hope this helps. You can also use vinegar and baking soda for this.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Nov 02, 2023

    Vinegar is the miracle worker for you, take a paper towel or a rag, moisten it with plain white vinegar and wrap it around the areas where the deposits are...for 1/2-1hour. Wipe off and repeat if needed.

  • Betsy Betsy on Nov 02, 2023

    Hi Carole: You can soak some paper towels in vinegar and then wrap them around the affected area. Leave it on over night and in the morning, use a plastic putty knife to scrap away the limescale.

  • Mogie Mogie on Nov 02, 2023

    Common household vinegar is extremely effective for this task. If you can remove your affected showerheads, faucets and other fixtures, submerge them in a bucket of vinegar for at least an hour. When you pull them out, any remaining limescale should flake right off after a vigorous scrubbing with an old toothbrush.